State Legislature must let Californians vote on whether to restore affirmative action

I’m one of the college seniors who graduated this year without all the fanfare of a typical graduation ceremony. Like most of my classmates, I’ve been living back at home with my parents and finishing classes online since the lockdowns closed our campuses. I’m fortunate to have a fellowship lined up after graduation, but so many of my peers are facing an uncertain job market due to the pandemic.

There is so much unknown right now, but one thing I’m certain about is that equal opportunity is more important than ever. That’s true for those of us going into the job market, and for the students in the years ahead who will be applying to college.

During a pandemic in which communities of color are being hit the hardest – and during a national reckoning over the systemic racism that exists in our country – it’s absolutely necessary to ensure that we have equal opportunity moving forward.

That’s why I’m watching the efforts in California this year to ensure opportunity for all by repealing Proposition 209, which banned affirmative action in state institutions. The Legislature will soon be hearing Assembly Constitutional Amendment 5, which would allow Californians to amend the state constitution to restore affirmative action in California. As an advocate for University of California students, I call on the Legislature to pass this measure as soon as possible. When they do, it will go on to the November ballot for Californians to make our voices for opportunity heard.

Despite being one of the most racially and ethnically diverse states in the country, California is one of fewer than 10 states that bans affirmative action. For 22 years, it has been illegal for California public colleges and universities to consider race as one of many factors. In 1996, opponents of equal opportunity used race as a wedge issue to drive voter turnout with Prop. 209, relying on fear and misinformation.

Unfortunately, Prop. 209 passed. As a result, a whole generation of students has been denied equal opportunity. Enough is enough. It’s long past time to fix this.

As a South Asian, I also want to address a persistent myth about the impact of affirmative action programs on Asian American students. Let me start with the facts.

We know that enrollment of Black and Latinx students has dropped dramatically since 1996. And contrary to popular belief, admission rates of Asian American students to the University of California has also declined, including at the most competitive schools like UCLA and UC Berkeley.

Meanwhile, universities outside California that practice affirmative action have seen bigger gains in the number of Asian American students enrolled. What this means is that until we repeal Prop 209, Asian American students in California – particularly those from underrepresented Asian American communities – are at a disadvantage.

This is particularly problematic in this moment, when racism’s impact on our society could not be more clear. Over the last few weeks, images and videos of violence against black people have demonstrated the extent to which racism corrodes our society and our institutions. The Asian American community is a part of this, too. For example, racist statements from national leaders have spurred a surge of racism and violence against Asian people during this pandemic.

Simply put, we can no longer pretend that race does not exist or that it doesn’t matter.

Students are far more complex than race alone, but race is undeniably an important part of who we are. This shapes the rich perspectives and experiences we bring to an academic environment.

Today, colleges can consider whether you’re from the suburbs, a city or a rural area. They can consider what high school you went to. They can consider your family’s economic background. They can look at virtually everything about you – but not race. It makes no sense – and is unfair – that schools can’t consider something that is so core to our lived experience.

Repealing Prop. 209 will not create quotas or caps. These are illegal under a Supreme Court decision and would remain so.

As a young voter in November, I want to be able to vote in favor of bringing equal opportunity back to California. My generation is counting on the legislature passing ACA 5. We all succeed or fail together.

This story was originally published June 6, 2020 at 6:00 AM.